Mining Engineering & Management

The Department of Mining Engineering & Management at South Dakota Mines is one of the oldest and most respected mining programs in the United States. Established alongside the university’s founding in 1885 during the development of the Black Hills mining district, the department has a long tradition of educating engineers who lead the global minerals industry. Its location in Rapid City places students near historic and active mining operations as well as the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, providing unique opportunities for field training and industry engagement. Over more than a century, the program has earned a strong reputation for producing technically skilled graduates who are highly sought after by major mining, energy, and resource companies worldwide.

Students in the Department of Mining Engineering & Management benefit from exceptionally strong internship placement rates, with many securing industry positions well before graduation. These internships provide valuable hands-on experience at active mining operations, allowing students to apply classroom knowledge in real-world environments while building professional networks. By the time they graduate, many students have completed multiple internships and developed relationships with major mining companies, which often leads directly to full-time employment opportunities.

The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) is a national organization representing companies and individuals in mining, metallurgy, and exploration.

Student Organization: SME/Drill & Crucible

Email: SME@mines.sdsmt.edu

Faculty/Staff Advisor: Dr. Andrea Brickey (Andrea.Brickey@sdsmt.edu)

National Society: www.smenet.org

The International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) was formed in 1974 as a professional society dedicated to promoting the safety, security, and controlled use of explosives in mining, construction, aerospace, avalanche control, special effects, seismology, law enforcement, and many other peaceful uses of explosives. With more than 4,600 members from 90 countries, the society is recognized as a global leader in providing expertise in explosives technology, education, and information, as well as promoting public understanding of the benefits of explosives. In addition, ISEE - with individual members acting as resources - has consistently been at the forefront of efforts to address legislation and regulation on the use of explosives at the international, federal, and state levels.

Email: ISEE@mines.sdsmt.edu

Faculty/Staff Advisor:  Dr. Purushotham Tukkaraja (PT@sdsmt.edu) 

The Mining & Mucking teams at South Dakota Mines consistently shine on the international stage – placing at or near the top of their respective divisions at the annual International Collegiate Mining Competition. The competition originated as a way to honor the lives of miners who died in the 1972 Sunshine Mine fire in Idaho, build camaraderie among mining students, and preserve old-fashioned mining methods.

The competition is made up of seven events:

1. Jackleg: drilling into a vertical rock or concrete face using a pneumatic jackleg drill
2. Handsteel: drilling a hole or holes into a 36″ thick block of concrete using a four-pound sledgehammer and a 7/8-inch-wide steel chisel
3. Survey: reporting coordinates using an old-fashioned vernier transit, a plumb bob, and a 50-meter steel tape
4. Gold Pan: panning five BBs from a one-pound coffee can of dirt and rock
5. Swede Saw: sawing through a 6x6-inch piece of pine timber with a 36-inch bow saw
6. Trackstand: setting up and tearing down a five-meter section of track, including sleepers, rail, connecting plates, and bolts
7. Mucking: pushing an empty ore cart down a 75-foot section of track, down and back, then shoveling "muck" (rock, clay, sand, and mud) into the cart until full, then pushing the ore cart down and back again

Faculty/Staff Advisor:  Dr. Ivy Allard (Ivy.Allard@sdsmt.edu)

Founded in 2013, the Mine Safety & Rescue group at South Dakota Mines trains off-site at a mine rescue chamber housed in partnership with industry leaders RESPEC and the Sanford Underground Research Facility rescue team in Lead, SD.

Faculty/Staff Advisor:  Mr. Mark Bowron (Mark.Bowron@sdsmt.edu)